Saturday, April 29, 2006

More on Limbaugh

Look, I doubt Pennsylvania legislators, lawmakers in other states or Congress are prepared to legalize pot, give recreational users a get-out-of-jail-free card or even lift the unreasonably dranconian measure that prevents convicted pot smokers from getting college grants.But the least the Legislature can do is spend the additional money Corbett wants where it will do the most good - in prevention education and providing free addiction treatment to anyone who wants it.Nothing underscores that more than the plea deal conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh cut Friday following a three-year investigation by Florida into his illicit prescription drug use. Under its terms, Limbaugh will plead guilty to just a single charge of prescription fraud - and even that will be dropped if Limbaugh continues treatment for his painkiller addiction. He also agreed to pay the state $30,000 to defray the public cost of the investigation and must pay $30 per month for the cost of supervision, during which time he will continue regular drug tests. If that deal was good enough for the Florida state attorney's office - no stranger to prosecuting drug users, then lawmakers here should force Corbett and county prosecutors to save Pennsylvania taxpayers a fortune by striking similar agreements with recreational drug users.The state could then save on drug investigation costs and pay officers overtime for doing other duties.

Treating drug users, rather than incarcerating them and cutting off their chances to improve themselves, would let us all retreat from this battlefield with some honor intact.Left Independent is also a great resource on this issue.